STEAM Art Project for Elementary School
Student balancing a circus performer on a pencil. Get the Free PDF download form Pop Up Art School.
STEAM Art Project for Elementary School
Balancing Circus Performers can be used in a variety of settings and as a complement to lessons in art and science. Use them in your elementary classroom or library to spark discussions about balance, bilateral symmetry and center of gravity.
Start by balancing a completed performer on your finger. Have the kids guess how it’s able to balance and sway on your finger without falling off. You can let one or two kids touch it gently so they can feel the weight of the pennies hidden inside.
Balancing Circus Performers Instructions
Here's how to make one:
Cut carefully around both copies of the performer.
Color both sides with markers.
Lay one figure face down. Tape a penny onto each hand.
Put the second cut-out figure on top, so it covers the pennies
Tape around the sandwiched copies so you don’t have any buckling or big gaps.
Test how well your figure balances.
The Acrobats can balance on one point because the weight and location of the pennies creates a low center of gravity. The figures have bilateral symmetry which helps them balance. Let your child experiment with where they can balance the circus performer. Our favorite part of this project, is when the kids experiment with where they can balance the circus performer. Before you know it, all of them will have a balancing circus performers on their noses!
Download the free PDF
Get the Balancing Acrobats printable here!
Want more ideas for the art room? Join our email list to receive our bi-weekly blog.
If you are looking for an enjoyable and low start-up cost side hustle without the ball-and-chain of a brick and mortar studio, join our Facebook group Pop up Art School-How to Run a Mobile Art Business a supportive group of mobile entrepreneurs. Whether you are curious, or ready to start your mobile business, stop by and introduce yourself!
Pop up Art School is a mobile art studio that teaches over 50 art workshops a year in public libraries, afterschool enrichment and adult art workshops.
Join our email newsletter community:
Click here to find out where we’re popping up next, get helpful art-making tips and free mini video tutorials!
Pop up Art School – your one stop for art lessons
Ditch the car keys, choose a lesson, fire up your device, and create with Pop up Art School – from the comfort of home!
Even if you can't draw a straight line, our step-by-step art tutorials help you relax and feel confident.
Our Art-to-go library has prerecorded art projects for kids, teens and adults in a safe ad-free environment. We now offer kits with free shipping in the USA.